Glaucoma: Now A Potential Preventable Cause Of Blindness

LEICESTER, U.K. - Sept. 26, 2014 - PRLog -- Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world today. It can affect a person’s ability to work, drive and enjoy normal everyday activities. In the elderly it is also associated with an increased risk of falls and as the population grows, older the number of people with glaucoma is likely to increase significantly.

Of great concern to eye specialists in the Western World, less than half of glaucoma is ever detected, diagnosed and successfully treated. Here in the UK, approximately 10% of all blindness registrations are related directly to Glaucoma.

Glaucoma Statistics In the UK

According to the British  Journal of Ophthalmology (1996), approx 2% of the population over the age of 40 have Glaucoma and this rises to over 10% in those aged over 75. Once diagnosed the current treatment is normally in the form of drops and lifelong treatment and close monitoring of your eyes and the eye pressure and your field of vision. The importance of this is to preserve your existing vision and minimise the risk of further sight loss or deterioration and to ensure that useful vision lasts an entire lifetime. Vision once lost by Glaucoma, will never recover and your retinal cells once damaged never regenerate.

As there is normally no significant ‘aches or pains’ associated with the most common form of Glaucoma, detection is normally carried out during a routine eye examination.. Optometrists and your eye test therefore have a crucial role in the detection and prevention of blindness from Glaucoma. Therefore, regular eye tests after the age of 40 are vital even if you think you have perfect vision.

Four key tests for Glaucoma

There are now 4 factors used to asses the risk of glaucoma

1)      Measurement of the intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in the eye

2)      Assessment of your optic nerve for signs of structural damage

3)      Assessment of your field of vision

4)      Measurement of your corneal thickness

There are other types of glaucoma that may need other investigations but a thorough and complete assessment for the most common type is based on the 4 tests above.

Treatment Options For Glaucoma

Patients with glaucoma can be successfully treated to prevent further visual loss. The early the condition is detected and treated the less the risk and the easier to treat the condition and therefore the better the outcome.

Treatment for most people is with the use of eye drops designed to lower eye pressure.A newer treatment is now available in some centres called Selective Laser Trabecuplasty (SLT) – this is being increasingly offered as a first line treatment for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension and is effective 80% of the time. SLT can also be used when conventional treatments such as eye drops do not control eye pressure. More traditional trabeculectomy are more complex surgical procedures that are also available for some (but not all) patients that can result in the control your eye pressure without the use of further drops. Your consultant or eye specialist would be the most appropriate to advise you if you might be suitable for one of more of these treatment options. Some eye specialists consider glaucoma a neurological as well as an eye pressure problem and for that reason some consultants do now recommend additional medication that may improve blood circulation to the optic nerve and reduce damage – one such product that achieves this is Ginko Biloba a herbal product. You should always seek advice form your GP or eye specialist before changing your medication.

Summary

Glaucoma is a common eye condition and is now considered by leading eye specialists to have a neurological element too. It is a common cause of blindness that is preventable. Visual Answers Optometrists have invested over £100 000 of the latest hospital-grade technology including Zeiss 3-D OCT eye scan (that takes a 3 dimensional scan of the optic nerve and retina that allows the structures/layers below the surface to be examined) and Optomap Ultra-wide eye scan  (that lets 4 times more of the retina to be examined than conventional methods). This technology not only ensures that the essential 4 tests described above are carried out. It also allows for the earliest detection and diagnosis of glaucoma (and other sight threatening conditions). In the case of Glaucoma, early referral, appropriate treatment and regular monitoring should protect most people from blindness throughout their life time.  Those that wish to have a check up for the early detection of Glaucoma should book for an Advanced Diagnostic Examination (ADE). These advanced tests, examinations and equipment are NOT available in ANY of the big High St optician chains. An Advanced Diagnostic Examination will last about an hour.

The advanced diagnostic examination also screens for the early detection of :

Macular Degeneration (AMD) - both dry and wet forms
Retinal Holes/Tears/Detachments and Traction
Many other eye conditions such as retinal tumours.

This high tech equipment does not require the use of eye drops in most cases and is completely non-invasive. The scans and other tests take only 15-20 minutes to complete and will be reviewed by specially trained optometrists normally on the same day during your eye test.

An OCT scan alone at the Spire Hospital Leicester costs over £200 for a single scan (this excludes consultant charges). At Visual Answers you will have 9 scans on each eye with 3 different pieces of equipment to carry out the most thorough and advanced assessment of both eyes (from the front to the back of the eye). The fee for the ADE including your sight test and normal consultation is normally £105 or from just £12.95 per month when you join our Eye Club.

Eye Club

Provides our VIP members a flexible and affordable way to ensure their eyes enjoy highest standards of care throughout their lifetime and also provides a variety of other benefits and privileges including:

A FREE annual Advanced Diagnostic Eye examination,
Up to 4 additional follow up appointments, consultations and additional scans/reviews per annum.
FREE emergency appointments.
25% permanently off the costs of spectacles and sunglasses whilst you remaining Eye Club members.

For more information call Visual Answers Optometrists on Quorn (01509) 414151 and Barrow (01509) 416800. or go to http://www.visualanswers.co.uk/

Visual Answers are award-winning independent optometrists based in Loughborough Leicestershire.